{"id":24640,"date":"2020-09-26T09:10:02","date_gmt":"2020-09-26T13:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/?p=24640"},"modified":"2022-02-19T19:00:52","modified_gmt":"2022-02-20T00:00:52","slug":"distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/","title":{"rendered":"Distorted Thinking: 10 Common Cognitive Distortions You Need To Avoid"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#What_Are_Cognitive_Distortions\" title=\"What Are Cognitive Distortions?\">What Are Cognitive Distortions?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#Negative_Core_Beliefs_An_Introduction\" title=\"Negative Core Beliefs: An Introduction\">Negative Core Beliefs: An Introduction<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#Examples_of_Negative_Core_Beliefs\" title=\"Examples of Negative Core Beliefs:\">Examples of Negative Core Beliefs:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#10_Common_Cognitive_Distortions_AKA_Distorted_Thinking_Patterns\" title=\"10 Common Cognitive Distortions (AKA Distorted Thinking Patterns)\">10 Common Cognitive Distortions (AKA Distorted Thinking Patterns)<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#1_All-Or-Nothing_AKA_Black_or_White_Thinking\" title=\"1. All-Or-Nothing (AKA Black or White) Thinking\">1. All-Or-Nothing (AKA Black or White) Thinking<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#2_Labeling\" title=\"2. Labeling\">2. Labeling<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#3_Magical_Thinking\" title=\"3. Magical Thinking\">3. Magical Thinking<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#4_Emotional_Reasoning\" title=\"4. Emotional Reasoning\">4. Emotional Reasoning<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#5_Should_Statements\" title=\"5. Should Statements\">5. Should Statements<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#6_Mind-Reading\" title=\"6. Mind-Reading\">6. Mind-Reading<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#7_Fortune_Telling\" title=\"7. Fortune Telling\">7. Fortune Telling<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#8_Catastrophizing_Or_Minimizing\" title=\"8. Catastrophizing (Or Minimizing)\">8. Catastrophizing (Or Minimizing)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#9_Ignoring_The_Good\" title=\"9. Ignoring The Good\">9. Ignoring The Good<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#10_Mental_Filtering\" title=\"10. Mental Filtering\">10. Mental Filtering<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#How_To_Fight_Cognitive_Distortions_With_Cognitive-Behavior_Therapy_CBT\" title=\"How To Fight Cognitive Distortions With Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT)\">How To Fight Cognitive Distortions With Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#Self-Help_Options\" title=\"Self-Help Options\">Self-Help Options<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#Final_Thoughts\" title=\"Final Thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#Recommended_Online_Providers\" title=\"Recommended Online Providers\">Recommended Online Providers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#References\" title=\"References\">References<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p id=\"c6e4\">One of the biggest lies we are told as children is that sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will never hurt us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"2a69\">The truth is, words\u200a cut deep and leave scars that last for decades. It begins with the <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1177\/0093854800027001003\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"messages we receive from our parents and other authority figures (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">messages we receive from our parents and other authority figures<\/a>. But it continues into adulthood, infecting us with <strong>distorted thinking patterns<\/strong> that make us miserable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"2a69\">As we grow into adulthood, problematic but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/20-cognitive-distortions-and-how-they-affect-your-life-0407154\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"common cognitive distortions define how we perceive ourselves (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\"><strong>common cognitive distortions<\/strong> define how we perceive ourselves<\/a> and the world around us. The result for many is a lifelong battle with low self-esteem, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/hard-lessons-about-fighting-depression\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">depression<\/a>,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/what-is-major-depression\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\"> <\/a>and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/breathing-exercises-for-mental-health\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">anxiety<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Distorted-Thinking-and-Common-Cognitive-Distortions.jpg\" alt=\"Distorted Thinking and Common Cognitive Distortions\" class=\"wp-image-33583 lazyload\" width=\"400\" height=\"600\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Distorted-Thinking-and-Common-Cognitive-Distortions.jpg\" alt=\"Distorted Thinking and Common Cognitive Distortions\" class=\"wp-image-33583 lazyload\" width=\"400\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Distorted-Thinking-and-Common-Cognitive-Distortions.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Distorted-Thinking-and-Common-Cognitive-Distortions-83x125.jpg 83w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Distorted-Thinking-and-Common-Cognitive-Distortions-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Distorted-Thinking-and-Common-Cognitive-Distortions-150x225.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Distorted-Thinking-and-Common-Cognitive-Distortions-768x1152.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Distorted Thinking: 10 Common Cognitive Distortions You Need To Avoid<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"0-what-are-cognitive-distortions\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_Cognitive_Distortions\"><\/span>What Are Cognitive Distortions?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"a173\">A \u201ccognitive distortion\u201d is an unhealthy and maladaptive pattern of distorted thinking built on an irrational belief system. Alcoholics Anonymous calls it \u201cstinking thinking,\u201d which is as good a description as any. Common cognitive distortions include black or white thinking, mind reading, and mental filtering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"a173\">We&#8217;ll talk more about what those are in a little bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"910b\">Cognitive distortions often turn us into our own worst enemy. As a therapist, I see the harm they cause all the time. In sessions, I listen to my clients talk about themselves in a way that they would never speak about other people. They hold themselves to impossibly high standards. They self-judge. They scold. They show a total lack of empathy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"910b\">It\u2019s brutal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, where does these nasty little fellas come from?<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-table-of-contents-block ub_table-of-contents\" data-showtext=\"show\" data-hidetext=\"hide\" data-scrolltype=\"auto\" id=\"ub_table-of-contents-5d7e3477-bad8-4170-b8fb-0b7c8d65c7fd\" data-initiallyhideonmobile=\"false\"\n                    data-initiallyshow=\"true\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header-container\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header\">\n                    <div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-title\">Skip ahead to the following sections:<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-extra-container\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-container ub_table-of-contents-2-column \"><ul><li><a href=https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#4-1-all-or-nothing-aka-black-or-white-thinking>1. All-Or-Nothing (AKA Black or White) Thinking<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#6-2-labeling>2. Labeling<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#8-3-magical-thinking>3. Magical Thinking<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#10-4-emotional-reasoning>4. Emotional Reasoning<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#12-5-should-statements>5. Should Statements<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#14-6-mind-reading>6. Mind-Reading<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#16-7-fortune-telling>7. Fortune Telling<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#18-8-catastrophizing-or-minimizing>8. Catastrophizing (Or Minimizing)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#20-9-ignoring-the-good>9. Ignoring The Good<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/distorted-thinking-and-cognitive-distortions\/#22-10-mental-filtering>10. Mental Filtering<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-negative-core-beliefs-an-introduction\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Negative_Core_Beliefs_An_Introduction\"><\/span>Negative Core Beliefs: An Introduction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"d3a3\">These common cognitive distortions are a symptom of much larger issues that lurk in the shadows of the unconscious mind. We call them \u201cNegative Core Beliefs.\u201d And if we are not careful, they can control every decision we make.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-examples-of-negative-core-beliefs-\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Examples_of_Negative_Core_Beliefs\"><\/span><strong>Examples of Negative Core Beliefs:<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>I am not good enough.<\/li><li>The world is unsafe.<\/li><li>People cannot be trusted.<\/li><li>Those closest to me will eventually abandon me.<\/li><li>I am unlovable.<\/li><li>Nobody likes me.<\/li><li>I am a bad person.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"2f38\">The genesis of these core beliefs is often childhood trauma, which is aided and abetted over the years by low self-esteem. Core beliefs are incubators for all manner of awfulness, from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/borderline-personality-disorder\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">personality<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/what-is-major-depression\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">depressive<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/what-causes-panic-attacks-plus-the-3-most-effective-ways-to-stop-them\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">anxiety disorders<\/a> to loneliness, laziness, and abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"2d22\">In other words, how we think about ourselves \u2014and the world around us \u2014can cause major problems. Especially if those thoughts are based on harmful lies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"5f3f\">In order to fight these distorted thinking patterns, you first have to understand what they are and how to spot them. To that end, here\u2019s a list of some common cognitive distortions, with tips on what to do about them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/cognitive-distortions-overview-450x300.jpg\" alt=\"cognitive distortions overview\" class=\"wp-image-24750 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/cognitive-distortions-overview-450x300.jpg\" alt=\"cognitive distortions overview\" class=\"wp-image-24750 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/cognitive-distortions-overview-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/cognitive-distortions-overview-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/cognitive-distortions-overview-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/cognitive-distortions-overview.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>How Thoughts Influence Actions<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-10-common-cognitive-distortions-aka-distorted-thinking-patterns\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Common_Cognitive_Distortions_AKA_Distorted_Thinking_Patterns\"><\/span>10 Common Cognitive Distortions (AKA Distorted Thinking Patterns)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"e7b6\">If you are one of the tens of millions who suffer from post-traumatic stress, anxiety, or depression, you probably struggle with at least one of these common cognitive distortions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-1-all-or-nothing-aka-black-or-white-thinking\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_All-Or-Nothing_AKA_Black_or_White_Thinking\"><\/span>1. All-Or-Nothing (AKA Black or White) Thinking<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"29c8\">Many cognitive distortions rely on&#8221;All-Or-Nothing&#8221; thinking, but it\u2019s important enough to warrant its own spot. All-or-Nothing thinking happens when we see something as all one way or all the other way. People are all bad, or all good. Police are all bad, or all good. Life is all bad, or all good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-examples\">Examples:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Nobody likes me.<\/li><li>People can\u2019t be trusted.<\/li><li>Nothing ever works out.<\/li><li>I\u2019m a bad person.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"4f3b\"><strong>Tip<\/strong>: Learn to avoid binary thinking. Things are rarely either this or that. The world exists in myriad shades of gray, as do you. Are some people untrustworthy? Sure. Do some people dislike you? Probably. Does that mean&nbsp;all&nbsp;people can\u2019t be trusted or that&nbsp;all&nbsp;people don\u2019t like you? No, it does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-2-labeling\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Labeling\"><\/span>2. Labeling<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"46cf\">Another common cognitive distortion is called &#8220;Labeling&#8221;. It&#8217;s an extreme form of overgeneralization that occurs when we make a value judgment based on one bad experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"7-examples\">Examples:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>You lose your job, so you are unemployable.<\/li><li>One date goes bad, so you are unlovable.<\/li><li>You failed an exam, so you are stupid.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"05b2\"><strong>Tip:&nbsp;<\/strong>Remind yourself that one instance does not a pattern make. Often in life, events happen independent of other events, and that what you perceive as a failure is actually an opportunity to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"8-3-magical-thinking\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Magical_Thinking\"><\/span>3. Magical Thinking<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"9d3a\">Control is an illusion, but that doesn\u2019t stop us from thinking that we have it over anyone or anything else but ourselves. Often seen in people who struggle with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, &#8220;Magical Thinking&#8221; is a common cognitive distortion wherein we believe that our thoughts or actions can somehow influence events that are beyond our control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"9-examples\">Examples:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>I\u2019ll meet my future spouse as soon as I lose 25 pounds.<\/li><li>This depression will end if I make more money.<\/li><li>People will respect me more if I buy a new car.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"c340\"><strong>Tip<\/strong>: Remember that anxiety springs from a desire to control that which we cannot. To paraphrase The Serenity Prayer, we must learn to accept that which we cannot change, have the courage to change the things we can, and be smart enough to know which is which.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"10-4-emotional-reasoning\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Emotional_Reasoning\"><\/span>4. Emotional Reasoning<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"6b0a\">Cognitive distortions use our emotions against us. When we mistake our feelings for facts, we allow our emotions to dictate reality. If you feel a certain way, then it must be true. The problem is, feelings are often unreliable. That&#8217;s the problem with &#8220;emotional reasoning,&#8221; an oxymoron if there ever was one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"11-examples\">Examples:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>I feel worthless, so I am worthless.<\/li><li>I feel like my friends don\u2019t like me, so my friends don\u2019t like me.<\/li><li>I feel like I\u2019ll never find love, so that means I\u2019ll always be alone.<\/li><li>She\u2019s the one. I can feel it.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"bb9d\"><strong>Tip<\/strong>: One of the many interventions in CBT is an exercise where you put your thoughts on trial. Ask yourself this: were I to go in front of a judge, could I persuade the court using actual evidence that backs up the way I feel? Remember, your emotions are not admissible. Could you make your case?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"12-5-should-statements\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Should_Statements\"><\/span>5. Should Statements<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"efbf\">Often, you can spot cognitive distortions by listening for certain words like &#8220;should.&#8221; What you \u201cshould\u201d do, what you \u201cmust\u201d do, what you \u201cought to\u201d do. Should statements impose a harsh set of expectations that are unlikely to be met.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"13-examples\">Examples:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>I have friends. I shouldn\u2019t be depressed (or sad, or angry, etc.).<\/li><li>I\u2019m smart. I shouldn\u2019t struggle in math class.<\/li><li>I\u2019m friendly to strangers, so strangers ought to be friendly to me.<\/li><li>People must like me.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"957e\"><strong>Tip<\/strong>: When I hear clients use a \u201cshould\u201d statement, I often say \u201caccording to whom?\u201d Why must people like you? Or, why don\u2019t you have a right to feel the way you do? Ask yourself the same questions. You won&#8217;t be able to answer them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/10-Common-Cognitivide-Distortions-www.blunt-therapy.com_.png\" alt=\"10 Common Cognitive Distortions\" class=\"wp-image-29362 lazyload\" width=\"667\" height=\"1500\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/10-Common-Cognitivide-Distortions-www.blunt-therapy.com_.png\" alt=\"10 Common Cognitive Distortions\" class=\"wp-image-29362 lazyload\" width=\"667\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/10-Common-Cognitivide-Distortions-www.blunt-therapy.com_.png 889w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/10-Common-Cognitivide-Distortions-www.blunt-therapy.com_-111x250.png 111w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/10-Common-Cognitivide-Distortions-www.blunt-therapy.com_-156x350.png 156w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/10-Common-Cognitivide-Distortions-www.blunt-therapy.com_-200x450.png 200w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/10-Common-Cognitivide-Distortions-www.blunt-therapy.com_-768x1728.png 768w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/10-Common-Cognitivide-Distortions-www.blunt-therapy.com_-683x1536.png 683w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 667px) 100vw, 667px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>10 Common Cognitive Distortions. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/a-therapists-guide-to-cognitive-distortions\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Source<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<center><h4>Share this Image On Your Blog!<\/h4><textarea onclick=\"this.focus();this.select()\" style=\"width:540px;height:120px\">&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&#8217;https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/a-therapists-guide-to-cognitive-distortions\/&#8217;&gt;&lt;img src=&#8217;https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/10-Common-Cognitivide-Distortions-www.blunt-therapy.com_.png&#8217; alt=&#8217;10 Common Cognitive Distortions&#8217; 540px border=&#8217;0&#8242; \/&gt;&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;<\/textarea><\/center>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"14-6-mind-reading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Mind-Reading\"><\/span>6. Mind-Reading<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"0750\">Do you ever assume that you know what\u2019s going on in someone else\u2019s head? That\u2019s &#8220;mind-reading,&#8221; and while we may have a good idea if we know the person well enough, cognitive distortions of this type stem from the inherently negative slant we often give it. The truth is, we don\u2019t know what someone else is thinking unless they tell us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"15-examples\">Examples:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>That woman won\u2019t make eye contact. She doesn\u2019t like me.<\/li><li>Ms. Handler gave me a C in Chemistry. She hates me.<\/li><li>My husband seems distracted. He must be cheating on me.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"fe1f\"><strong>Tip<\/strong>: Try to keep in mind that humans are really bad at reading minds, even though we think we aren\u2019t. Keep in mind that you are heavily influenced by your own thoughts and perceptions, and that it is wise to withhold judgment until you have the facts to back it up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"16-7-fortune-telling\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Fortune_Telling\"><\/span>7. Fortune Telling<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"3842\">&#8220;Fortune Telling,&#8221; as the name implies, is when we think we know the future. We may base these fortunes on past experiences, but the past does not always predict future events. One bad date does not mean all future dates will be bad. Just because you haven\u2019t been promoted yet doesn\u2019t mean you won\u2019t be in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"17-examples\">Examples:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>I will never be financially stable.<\/li><li>Nobody would come to any party I\u2019d throw.<\/li><li>I will never get over my divorce.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"34c9\"><strong>Tip<\/strong>: Honestly examine your track record of predicting the future. How often have you been right? How often have you been wrong? If you\u2019ve been wrong before, is it possible that you\u2019re wrong now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"18-8-catastrophizing-or-minimizing\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Catastrophizing_Or_Minimizing\"><\/span>8. Catastrophizing (Or Minimizing)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"f2ba\">These cognitive distortions are two sides of the same coin. They stem from when we exaggerate or minimize the relative importance of things. A minor setback becomes the end of the world. Or an important achievement is discarded as a fluke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"19-examples\">Examples:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>I lost my job. My life is over.<\/li><li>My boyfriend and I got into an argument. He must hate me.<\/li><li>My boss snapped at me. She\u2019s going to fire me.<\/li><li>I have battled depression for years because I\u2019m a weak person.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"d9d5\"><strong>Tip<\/strong>: Ask yourself if you are mistaking&nbsp;<em>possible&nbsp;<\/em>for&nbsp;<em>likely.&nbsp;<\/em>For example, is it&nbsp;<em>possible&nbsp;<\/em>that your boss will fire you? Sure. Is it&nbsp;<em>likely<\/em>? Probably not. Then, ask yourself if there are alternative points of view. Is it not a sign of strength to fight mental illness? Could it be that a better job opportunity awaits?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe class=\"lazyload\" title=\"What are Cognitive Distortions?\" width=\"1170\" height=\"658\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/otFrNM7PnME?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption>What are Cognitive Distortions? Courtesy, YouTube.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"20-9-ignoring-the-good\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_Ignoring_The_Good\"><\/span>9. Ignoring The Good<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"805a\">This happens when we focus on relatively minor negative things instead of acknowledging all the positive things that just happened as well. Say, for example, that you scored a 98\/100 on a 100 question exam. &#8220;Ignoring The Good&#8221; means you crucify yourself for missing two questions while ignoring the fact that you got 98 of them right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"21-examples\">Examples:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>You hit three line drives in that baseball game, but beat yourself up over the one strikeout.<\/li><li>After a successful first date, you ruminate over that one dumb thing you said, ignoring the two hours of delightful conversation you just enjoyed.<\/li><li>You have many friends, but you ruminate on the one individual who just doesn\u2019t like you.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"8ea1\"><strong>Tip<\/strong>: Remember that success is relative. In baseball, a player with a .400 batting average is considered exceptional, even though they fail 60% of the time. Reframe your negative thoughts into a more balanced assessment of the situation. For example: \u201cYes, that person doesn\u2019t like me, but I have many great friends who do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"22-10-mental-filtering\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Mental_Filtering\"><\/span>10. Mental Filtering<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"0066\">Last on the list of cognitive distortions is &#8220;Mental Filtering,&#8221; which results from seeing the world through a strictly negative lens. Positives are either discounted or ignored. As you can imagine, mental filtering is especially bad for people who suffer from anxiety or depression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"23-examples\">Examples:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>You bemoan the loss of a toxic relationship, failing to see you are probably better off without him.<\/li><li>A job loss is the end of the world, despite low pay and awful work conditions.<\/li><li>You move to a new town, thinking your social life is over.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"be45\"><strong>Tip<\/strong>: Perform a cost-benefit analysis of the situation. What do you lose? What do you gain? Take a sheet of paper, draw a line from the top to the bottom, and write down your findings. See if reality matches your perception of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/fight-cognitive-distortions-with-CBT.jpg\" alt=\"fight cognitive distortions with CBT\" class=\"wp-image-29368 lazyload\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/fight-cognitive-distortions-with-CBT.jpg\" alt=\"fight cognitive distortions with CBT\" class=\"wp-image-29368 lazyload\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/fight-cognitive-distortions-with-CBT.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/fight-cognitive-distortions-with-CBT-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/fight-cognitive-distortions-with-CBT-525x350.jpg 525w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/fight-cognitive-distortions-with-CBT-200x133.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"24-how-to-fight-cognitive-distortions-with-cognitive-behavior-therapy-cbt\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_To_Fight_Cognitive_Distortions_With_Cognitive-Behavior_Therapy_CBT\"><\/span>How To Fight Cognitive Distortions With Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"dbee\">Ideally, the best way to overcome cognitive distortions is to work with a licensed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/resources\/mental-health-websites\/\">mental health<\/a> professional trained in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Most therapists these days use some variation of CBT to teach clients how to challenge and overcome disroted thinking patterns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"dbee\">The basic premise of CBT is that how we think affects how we feel, which in turn affects how we behave. If we change the way we think, we change how we feel, and we behave differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"9dd0\">It sounds simple enough, but the truth is that it takes a lot of time and effort to change distorted thinking patterns. After all, our entire worldview is influenced by how we think and what we believe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"1921\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3584580\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CBT is used to treat a host of mental disorders<\/a>, including anxiety disorders, PTSD, depressive disorders, eating disorders, and substance use disorders (SUD).&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5797481\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Research&nbsp;<\/a>demonstrates that CBT is the current gold-standard in modern psychotherapy, as it is evidenced-based, well-researched, and effective<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"6465\">To find out if CBT is right for you, the best thing to do is to schedule an assessment with a licensed practitioner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f0f8ff\"><a class=\"thirstylink\" rel=\"nofollow rel=&quot;sponsored&quot;\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Online-Therapy.com\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/recommends\/online-therapy-com\/\" data-shortcode=\"true\">Online-Therapy.com<\/a> specializes in CBT-based counseling. During the Coronavirus Pandemic, you can get started for free. Click the link to get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"25-self-help-options\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Self-Help_Options\"><\/span>Self-Help Options<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"6d97\">If therapy is not an option due to cost or availability, there are a number of free or low-cost options to consider. For example, the website&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.therapistaid.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TherapistAid<\/a>&nbsp;offers dozens of free worksheets that you can download.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/beckinstitute.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy<\/a>&nbsp;is also a good place to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"14f1\">You can also purchase more in-depth workbooks online from retailers like Amazon. Here are three I recommend you put on your shortlist. (<em>Note: these aren\u2019t affiliate links<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/CBT-Toolbox-Workbook-Clients-Clinicians\/dp\/1936128306\/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3A2RDBYDOUAFB&amp;dchild=1&amp;keywords=cbt+workbook&amp;qid=1597831713&amp;sprefix=cbt%2Caps%2C176&amp;sr=8-1-spons&amp;psc=1&amp;spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyWEdTOTBTRUE0SFdCJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzQ1OTY4MUxZWTBDRDJNREZWSCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUExMDM2ODQwWkxHUlNFOVNKWUJNJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The CBT Toolbox: A Workbook for Clients and Clinicians<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Cognitive-Behavioral-Therapy-Made-Simple\/dp\/1939754852\/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=3A2RDBYDOUAFB&amp;dchild=1&amp;keywords=cbt+workbook&amp;qid=1597831912&amp;sprefix=cbt%2Caps%2C176&amp;sr=8-2-spons&amp;psc=1&amp;spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUE0SVE1Tzc3WTRTMVAmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA1ODI1NDRUVDBYVThKOUxWTzMmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDUwMzY4MkkyVVcwNU1NS0tZWiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Made Simple: 10 Strategies for Managing Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Panic, and Worry<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Cognitive-Behavioral-Therapy-Worksheets-Ready\/dp\/168373226X\/ref=sr_1_4_sspa?crid=3A2RDBYDOUAFB&amp;dchild=1&amp;keywords=cbt+workbook&amp;qid=1597831912&amp;sprefix=cbt%2Caps%2C176&amp;sr=8-4-spons&amp;psc=1&amp;spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUE0SVE1Tzc3WTRTMVAmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA1ODI1NDRUVDBYVThKOUxWTzMmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDg0NTgzOTJZQjJBTVdMVU9RUTcmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Worksheets: 65+ Ready-to-Use CBT Worksheets to Motivate Change, Practice New Behaviors &amp; Regulate Emotion<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, in the wake of COVID-19, online therapy has emerged as an excellent alternative to traditional face-to-face therapy. Some <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/betterhelp-counseling-review\/\" title=\"online counseling\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">online counseling<\/a> sites even specialize in Cognitive Behavior Therapy. If that interests you, <a class=\"thirstylink\" rel=\"nofollow rel=&quot;sponsored&quot;\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Online-Therapy.com\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/recommends\/online-therapy-com\/\" data-shortcode=\"true\">check out Online-Therapy<\/a>. Their licensed therapists do a wonderful job. Learn more about them by watching the video here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe class=\"lazyload\" title=\"How Does Online Therapy Work? | Online-Therapy.com\" width=\"1170\" height=\"658\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Z4az4TZpqcQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/recommends\/online-therapy-com\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Visit Online-Therapy.com today and get started for free. (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow sponsored\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Visit Online-Therapy.com today and get started for free.<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"26-final-thoughts\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_Thoughts\"><\/span>Final Thoughts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"e587\">You are not what you believe, nor are you a slave to your own thoughts. It may feel that way, but remember:&nbsp;<em>feelings are not factual<\/em>. Facts don\u2019t change, but feelings can and do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Start with a simple admission. Your distorted thinking patterns are the problem.* Learn to recognize how your thoughts influence your emotions. Identify your core beliefs and start to dispute them.<\/li><li>Give it time. Many clients who participate in CBT begin to find relief in as little as 8 to 15 sessions. When you consider the decades that these distortions have plagued you, a few months of therapy is nothing.<\/li><li>Most importantly, give yourself a break. You are far too hard on yourself, and you\u2019ve been that way for far too long. Don\u2019t believe the lies you have told yourself. You have worth. You have value. And you matter.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"27-recommended-online-providers\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Recommended_Online_Providers\"><\/span>Recommended Online Providers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>I have used the following online <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/how-to-get-results-in-therapy\/\" title=\"counseling\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">counseling<\/a> platforms and can vouch for their professionalism, effectiveness, and quality. It&#8217;s up to you to decide which one is the best fit. All three offer affordable access to high-quality licensed therapists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/online-therapy.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-22910 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"225\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/online-therapy.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-22910 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/online-therapy.png 225w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/online-therapy-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/online-therapy-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<ul id=\"block-1e5b5f59-f6ca-47f6-bb69-70687ad1d658\"><li>Offers video, voice-only, and text-based counseling.<\/li><li>Access to a licensed therapist<\/li><li>Specializes in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)<\/li><li>Promotes use of worksheets, journals, and yoga.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"ub-buttons align-button-center orientation-button-row ub-flex-wrap wp-block-ub-button\"  id=\"ub-button-523ef69b-c264-48a1-8c9f-79b9d3482408\"><div class=\"ub-button-container\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/recommends\/online-therapy\/\" target=\"_blank\"\n    rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow sponsored\"\n    class=\"ub-button-block-main ub-button-medium ub-button-flex-medium\" role=\"button\">\n    <div class=\"ub-button-content-holder\"><span class=\"ub-button-block-btn\"><strong>Visit Online-Therapy.com<\/strong><\/span>\n    <\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/talkspace.png\" alt=\"talk space\" class=\"wp-image-22908 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"225\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/talkspace.png\" alt=\"talk space\" class=\"wp-image-22908 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/talkspace.png 225w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/talkspace-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/talkspace-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<ul id=\"block-46d04402-bed4-41e3-97f3-972d24177657\"><li>App available on Google Play and The App Store<\/li><li>Offers real-time text-based counseling with phone and video messaging options.<\/li><li>Access to a licensed therapist<\/li><li>Offers psychiatry and accepts some insurance providers<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"ub-buttons align-button-center orientation-button-row ub-flex-wrap wp-block-ub-button\"  id=\"ub-button-85c0a1ee-7328-4e54-8e1d-6c6704abb6c0\"><div class=\"ub-button-container\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/recommends\/talkspace\/\" target=\"_blank\"\n    rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow sponsored\"\n    class=\"ub-button-block-main ub-button-medium\" role=\"button\">\n    <div class=\"ub-button-content-holder\"><span class=\"ub-button-block-btn\"><strong>Visit TalkSpace<\/strong><\/span>\n    <\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-3 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/betterhelp.jpg\" alt=\"betterhelp\" class=\"wp-image-22909 lazyload\" width=\"242\" height=\"242\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/betterhelp.jpg\" alt=\"betterhelp\" class=\"wp-image-22909 lazyload\" width=\"242\" height=\"242\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/betterhelp.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/betterhelp-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/betterhelp-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 242px) 100vw, 242px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<ul id=\"block-0b385006-6a6a-4c0b-a6aa-e2c2e8050133\"><li>App available on Google Play and The App Store<\/li><li>Offers, real-time video, chat, and text sessions.<\/li><li>Access to a licensed therapist<\/li><li>70% of clients report reduction in depressive symptoms.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"ub-buttons align-button-center orientation-button-row ub-flex-wrap wp-block-ub-button\"  id=\"ub-button-c0c68907-df57-449c-bc87-48e3e3b04aa9\"><div class=\"ub-button-container\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/recommends\/betterhelp\/\" target=\"_blank\"\n    rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow sponsored\"\n    class=\"ub-button-block-main ub-button-medium\" role=\"button\">\n    <div class=\"ub-button-content-holder\"><span class=\"ub-button-block-btn\"><strong>Visit BetterHelp<\/strong><\/span>\n    <\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"28-references\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"References\"><\/span>References<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/cognitive-distortions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Cognitive Distortions: 10 Examples of Distorted Thinking<\/a><\/li><li><a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/positivepsychology.com\/cognitive-distortions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Cognitive Distortions: When Your Brain Lies to You (+ PDF Worksheets)<\/a><\/li><li><a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/ten-cognitive-distortions-identified-in-cbt-22412\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">10 Cognitive Distortions Identified in CBT<\/a><\/li><li><a aria-label=\"20 Cognitive Distortions and How They Affect Your Life (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/20-cognitive-distortions-and-how-they-affect-your-life-0407154\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">20 Cognitive Distortions and How They Affect Your Life<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1177\/0093854800027001003\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Cognitive Distortion and Problem Behaviors in Adolescents (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Cognitive Distortion and Problem Behaviors in Adolescents<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cognitive distortions are irrational and distorted thinking patterns that are often the root cause of depression and anxiety. This post teaches you how to identify and defeat them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":33584,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","ub_ctt_via":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[781,16],"tags":[798,871,869,789,760,915,972,30,870],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Distorted-Thinking-and-Common-Cogntivie-Distortions.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Randy Withers, LCMHC","author_link":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/author\/randy-withers\/"},"modified_by":"Randy Withers, LCMHC","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Distorted-Thinking-and-Common-Cogntivie-Distortions.jpg",800,450,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Distorted-Thinking-and-Common-Cogntivie-Distortions-150x84.jpg",150,84,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Distorted-Thinking-and-Common-Cogntivie-Distortions-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Distorted-Thinking-and-Common-Cogntivie-Distortions-768x432.jpg",768,432,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Distorted-Thinking-and-Common-Cogntivie-Distortions-400x225.jpg",400,225,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Distorted-Thinking-and-Common-Cogntivie-Distortions.jpg",800,450,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Distorted-Thinking-and-Common-Cogntivie-Distortions.jpg",800,450,false],"tiny":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Distorted-Thinking-and-Common-Cogntivie-Distortions.jpg",60,34,false],"thumbnail-medium":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Distorted-Thinking-and-Common-Cogntivie-Distortions.jpg",480,270,false],"thumbnail-square":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Distorted-Thinking-and-Common-Cogntivie-Distortions.jpg",480,270,false],"thumbnail-portrait":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Distorted-Thinking-and-Common-Cogntivie-Distortions.jpg",480,270,false],"thumbnail-large":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Distorted-Thinking-and-Common-Cogntivie-Distortions.jpg",720,405,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Randy Withers, LCMHC","author_link":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/author\/randy-withers\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Cognitive distortions are irrational and distorted thinking patterns that are often the root cause of depression and anxiety. This post teaches you how to identify and defeat them.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24640"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24640"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24640\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33584"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24640"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24640"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24640"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}